tractrix

[ trak-triks ]

noun

, Geometry.

, plural trac·tri·ces [trak-, trahy, -seez, trak, -tr, uh, -seez].

1. a curve whose tangents are all of equal length; the involute of a catenary.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tractrix¹

1720–30; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin trac-, variant stem of trahere to draw, pull + -trīx -trix

Example Sentences

The involute of the catenary is called the tractory, tractrix or antifriction curve; it has a cusp at the vertex of the catenary, and is asymptotic to the directrix.

From Project Gutenberg